On Saturday, April 30th, 2016 six (6) members of the Lexington Fire Department Local 1491 competed in "the Firefighter Challenge" hosted by the Norwood Fire Deptartment Local 1631. It was a fundraiser for members of Local 1631 that are going to be participating in the PanMass Challenge in August.

The "challenge" is a timed, eight (8) station event, beginning with a three (3) story stair climb carrying a highrise pack (twice). Then climbing two (2) stories to perform the weighted rope pull, five (5) times. Next is the 16' ladder raise & then on to the attack line advance, which consisted of pulling a charged 1 3/4" hose line 100', then knocking down three weighted cones with the hose stream. The 5th station was the 100' weighted dummy drag & then next was the hammer swing, which each firefighter had to hit a weighted log on a rubber skid approximately 6'. The 7th station was pulling 100' of 4" hose to you, then dragging it back 100' & finally the 8th station was the overhaul simulator, in which the firefighter had to raise a weighted ceiling panel to an upright position with a closet hook, then let it down, 20 times. All these stations simulate some of what a firefighter does or may have to do during a fire & were performed in full turnout gear & wearing self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or scott packs.

The stations were very difficult & intense, but the LFD Local 1491 members had a fine showing. It was a great competition between the members themselves & against other departments that competed. Fun was had by all!